Traffic team proposed

Published 9:00 pm, Sunday, April 28, 2002

In response to residents' requests for more patrols, Midland City Council has sent city staffers digging for telltale traffic statistics.

By Kathie Marchlewski

Speeders beware  and frustrated neighborhood residents rejoice  the city is considering adding more police officers to its team.

In response to residents' requests for more patrols, Midland City Council has sent city staffers digging for telltale traffic statistics.

The engineering department has compiled a report detailing Midlanders' driving habits, accident reports and the number of vehicle registrations to help council decide if it should take on two more officers.

Council first asked for the report at its budget study session earlier this month. Members will discuss it again tonight at 7 p.m. in council chambers at City Hall.

City staff will offer reports to council showing that traffic volumes in the city have increased 15 percent since 1996. The number of hazardous citations issued to drivers has increased 16 percent.

Police Chief Jim St. Louis is proposing that if the city wants to add a traffic team, it hire two more patrol officers at a cost of $55,014 a year, including benefits.

The expense would add 0.047 of a mill to the 11.74-mill city tax rate, costing an additional $2.35 a year for a taxpayer with a home valued at $100,000.

Adding two officers would increase police visibility at high accident locations and traffic complaint areas, St. Louis said. Police also could issue more citations and initiate more law enforcement action, something that city traffic consultant Stan Cool says would help Midland's traffic problems.

The new hires would be assigned to a Traffic Services Unit, which would have the sole purpose of traffic enforcement, St. Louis said.

There are no police officers designated solely to traffic enforcement now.